Eyal Benvenisti, a past fellow of IIAS, has inaugurated the Center for Applied Research on Risks to Democracy at Tel Aviv University. This center, which he heads, aims to identify and address the challenges facing contemporary democratic societies. Benvenisti emphasizes the importance of understanding and mitigating risks to democracy, promoting civic education, and fostering public engagement to rebuild trust and community cohesion in Israel and globally.

Professor Uzi Leibner, a past fellow of the IIAS and a key member of the "Variety and Variability: Mapping the Cultural and Social Diversity of the Southern Levant in the Hellenistic Period" research group, is leading a new archaeological excavation at the Ophel, offering a fascinating glimpse into Jerusalem's rich history.